Entries from July 2006

July 28, 2006

From my perspective the writing has been on the wall for a couple of years now, but I think recent efforts to make research findings more freely available are making it a done deal. This new letter from 25 leading U.S. universities supporting the proposed Federal Public Research Access Act is a strong step. The most powerful aspect of this letter is that the university president's (most of which have their own publishing units) have come out squarely on the side of open access: no debate. The primary target is the big commercial publishers that increasingly have the ability to hold the scholarly publishing and dissemination process up for ransom. One more nail means greater access to information for all who need it.

Google released their new open source repository, Google Code, on Thursday. The expected Google simplicity is there from the start. Information on Google's various APIs is also available from this page. I haven't had much time to look at the system, but it will be interesting to follow along and see if it catches on.

Jeesh - these stupid patent tricks seem to be getting bigger and sillier every time. This one has an incredible list of claims for what is in essence the online learning environment (or, dare I say, traditional classroom). One example: 11. The system of claim 2 wherein the student user is provided with an access level to enable reading of a plurality of files associated with a course. Huh? Seems to me electronic textbooks, or web pages (or their facsimile's) were invented a tidge before BlackBeard...oops...BlackBoard came on the scene. The Sakai lists are buzzing with the announcement of this patent, especially since big and successful open source projects like this one will increasingly become the target of companies that no longer (or ever) had the ability to innovate and compete in the open market. The scary thing with this one is just what does BlackBoard have up their sleeve? I guess it can be summed up in the companies slogan: Educate. Innovate. Everywhere. The edBorg are coming to a school near you... This makes me wish they would change the glue they are using in the patent officers furniture, as it is obviously having a severe impact on their cognitive abilities. Hey, maybe someone could patent it...

I like the quote from this old news release entitled "Microsoft and Blackboard Form Strategic Alliance to Empower Learners And Enhance E-Learning Solutions for Education Institutions Worldwide": E-learning has been held back because students and faculty have to access resources from a variety of systems that don't work well together. Yes, that was Bill Gates. So I wonder how this new patent will move the eLearning agenda forward? Maybe the Gates Foundation could donate this patent to educational institutions of the world? It wouldn't cost them very much...

Just found this one today after browsing a First Monday article. ThinkCycle provides an online collaborative environment that aims to facilitate the design process, kind of a wikipedia for invention. Now if we could only get rid of those foolish dumb patent tricks (next post)...

While this may be required reading for those doing business with U.S. Defense, it is also useful reading for any institution delivering a comprehensive online/distance ed component. It is essentially a list of questions that get at best practices, so it would provide an interesting framework for an all-day brainstorming at any institution. All you have to do is be a bit creative with the questions. For example, in the following replace the 2 occurrences of military with a blank: Does the institution have flexible policies in the areas of admissions subject to its accreditation and state licensing guidelines), credit transfer (to include credit by exam and military training experience) and academic residency requirements to meet the unique needs of military students? . Now, doesn't that describe what we all need to do to adapt to the flexible/adult learner that is going to pull our collective higher-ed bacon out of the fire?

Just one of many interesting articles from the First Monday Conference: Code, Science, and Content (15–17 May 2006) issue of First Monday. I have always been interested on how we can use the new tools to reinvent the way we report and participate in the news of the day. Some great suggestions for moving forward and the nice thing about it is this kind of evolution can happen at the international or local level: I suggest we start with some local news efforts...

Just found a reference to the NSF funded Digital Library Curriculum project, which aims to develop a curriculum for higher ed computer science programs. Given the nature of this subject and that they do this right, this could pretty much take the place of many of the outdated comp sci programs out there :-( I also like this one because it demonstrates a great example of smart use of a Wiki, despite Mike Yamamoto's suggestion that Wiki's have no obvious role in the business world. Why is that software genres that are largely free have little perceived value in the business world until someone outs a price tag on them? I have a hard time thinking of anything in the modern firm that wouldn't be well served by a Wiki...not to mention the educational uses.

Librarians at Queen's University have started a new online journal dealing with Canadian libraries and archives. With the power of today's online publishing tools I'm we'll be seeing more of these: now if only this one allowed comments,, especially on that Point/Counterpoint feature...

Libraries involved in the management of institutional records/documents should take a look at the new AIIM Document ARP1-2006 – Analysis, Selection, And Implementation Guidelines Associated with Electronic Document Management Systems. A general overview of current practice and standards which would be a good start for staff who need a basic intro.